QUEENS, NY — It's been years since the Shalimar Diner stood in Rego Park, but plans to replace the iconic, now-demolished diner with a modern-looking building are upsetting some neighbors.

A recently-revealed rendering of the nine-story building at 63-68 Austin Street posted on a neighborhood social media page shows a gray-and-white facade dotted with black-framed windows. The mixed-use building is slated to have 78 apartment units (19 of which will be affordable), commercial space and parking, according to plans approved by the city last year.

The boxy design mirrors many new apartment buildings in Queens (where the architect has a long track record), but some neighbors are upset by the building's aesthetic.

"Another architectural monstrosity in the area," Adam Gerstein wrote on a Facebook thread about the building. Several comments down, someone else described the building as a "monstrosity."

A third neighbor, echoing these sentiments, said the building is among the "ghastly designs for new buildings in the neighborhood."

Some people, though, defended steel- and metal-clad buildings on the thread, citing their possible environmental and economic impacts — factors that are top of mind in New York City.

"I prefer the look of pre-war [but] new buildings are more energy efficient and much much safer as they have automatic sprinkler systems.... faster and safer elevators, most have sound proof and shading windows lowering energy costs [and] wider staircases," Yvonne Scibelli wrote.

Others, still, weren't convinced, pointing to the relative inefficiency (environmental and financial) of glass and the resurgence of brickwork in the city.

"You can absolutely build new buildings that do not look out of place in established neighborhoods," said Larry Evans. "It is a plain and simple choice to pick other exterior materials and modern-looking designs, not a requirement."

The design of the building just added insult to injury for some neighbors still aggrieved over the loss of the Shalimar Diner, which was demolished in 2019 after its planned relocation to Long Island fell through.

"Bring back the Shalimar!" wrote one neighbor, to which another responded: "I liked it too."

Sharon Enzer said the Shalimar's teardown was "inexcusable."

"Now we are left with no local diners here," she said, alluding to a citywide trend of diner closures that hits close to home in Queens. Nearby, Rego Park's Tower Diner is also slated to become a new building, and T-Bone Diner in Forest Hills is closed, its future uncertain.

Despite the community pushback, construction on this plot of land has been all-but imminent since 2018, when the 45-year-old diner closed citing unaffordable rent.

The building — clad with stonework siding and a teal-and-steel roof — was demolished the next year and has stood vacant ever since behind a construction fence, maps show.

Construction on the new building is expected to be complete by winter 2024, according to the rendering.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.